From the Production Notes:

Relative Values is director Eric Styles' second feature. The screenplay by Paul Rattigan and Michael Walker is an adaptation of Noel Coward's classic theatrical production of the same name.

Rattigan, an ex-actor, actually played the role of Nigel, the Earl of Marshwood in a West End production of the play, which was when he first realised its great potential for film. "We started work on the screenplay in 1996, once we had ascertained that the rights were still available from the Coward Estate. We then took the script down to the Cannes Film Festival 1997 and sold the idea to the Overseas Film Group."

Styles knew he could make the material relevant to a modern day audience. "The film works for a contemporary audience because the madness of the whole situation is so appealing - it doesn't have any of the stuffiness you'd normally associate with this sort of piece."  

Relative Values has an incredible all-star cast which includes (in alphabetical order) the legendary Julie Andrews, Edward Atterton, William Baldwin, Colin Firth, Stephen Fry, Sophie Thompson and Jeanne Tripplehorn.

Styles and Milburn spent a long time in conjunction with the casting director Celestia Fox ensuring they had the perfect actors and actresses for the roles.

Styles was delighted when "Julie Andrews became one of the first actresses to commit to the project. This was entirely due to the fact that the script was very good. The writers had worked on it for nearly two years to turn what was a good play into a really rich, vibrant, playful, dynamic screenplay which all of the actors loved. Once Julie was on board it became an amazing magnet for all the other cast. The whole mystery and intrigue that surrounds Julie's iconic status was irresistible. At first I found it a little intimidating but she is so incredibly generous and giving, with an energy and enthusiasm that just knocks your socks off, that I soon forgot about my initial nerves. As a director I was blown away by the level of insight she had, not only into her character but the whole piece."  

The second member of the cast to come on board was Sophie Thompson who plays the pivotal role of Moxie, the Countess of Marshwood's personal maid. "Relative Values is Moxie's story", says Styles. "It's about a woman who is going through a huge amount of pain because she is being forced to leave her employer and the family that she loves. Moxie plays a very central role in the film and hence finding the right actress to play her was of great importance. We needed someone who was both engaging and endearing so that the audience would feel for her predicament. When we saw Sophie Thompson we knew that she was perfect for the role. She had all the qualities we required in addition to a lightness, sincerity and humility that just added to the character."  

For the roles of Don Lucas and Miranda Frayle, Styles chose American actors. "The Americans were very interesting casting. It's difficult to get big American stars to work on moderate budget British films, so you have to find actors who are really committed to the project and enter into the spirit of things. We were incredibly lucky getting Jeanne Tripplehorn and William Baldwin, who had an energy and a way of working which differentiated them from the British cast and gives the piece a real edge and dynamism. They were absolutely great and not at all afraid of sending themselves up which was important with a piece about the craziness of actors, their vanity and their self-importance."  

It was not only the casting that required a great deal of time and effort. The Marshwood House location and the set and costume design had to evoke the perfect atmosphere and style of post-war Britain. The Nunnery, an imposing mansion on the Isle of Man was chosen as Marshwood. The site was originally a nunnery in the eleventh century and the beautiful house that now stands there, was designed by the Bath architect John Pinch in the 1820's. Production Designer Humphrey Jaeger and Costume Designer Nick Ede were chosen for their skill and ability to make Styles' ideas reality.